This week in Lynchburg (Aug 12-18)

Heads up: there are 120 or so events on this one. Saturday is the big day: Three Roads throws a free all-day birthday festival with live music and the Punk Rock Flea Market vendors, the Academy hosts its first-ever Ink Fest, a veteran expo takes over American Legion Post 16, and there's an obstacle 5K through Poplar Forest at sunrise. Around it, the week runs on ghost tours, a kitten-filled trivia night, live theater downtown, craft classes, library programs, and the senior centers going all week.

If I'm missing something, or you've got an event you're hosting or want to share, let me know.

Loving this? Forward this email to a friend who's new to town or always bored on weekends. The full list lives on the free community calendar at https://calendar.lyhevents.com.

With Gratitude to our Sponsor: Super Rad Arcade Bar

Super Rad is the largest classic arcade in Virginia, on 9th St downtown. Pac-Man, Street Fighter, X-Men, pinball, plus live music every week. Click for offerings

🟢 free · 🟠 paid · 🎤 karaoke

Wed Aug 12

🟢 Free daytime programs · Chair Exercise 9:00am and Canasta 9:30am at Templeton Center · Recreation Shuffle 10:00am at Fairview Center · free senior drop-ins, ages 50+ · Parks & Rec guide
🟠 Yoga in the Park · 9:00-10:00am · The Overlook at Riverside Park · $5, free for Prana unlimited members · with Prana Yoga, weekly through Aug 26
🟢 LEGO Club · 10:00am-2:00pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center · drop-in, with Mega Bloks, KEVA Planks and MAGNA-TILES
🟢 LEGO Club (Downtown) · 10:00am-5:00pm · Downtown Branch Library · LEGO and DUPLO drop-in
🟢 Bookmobile · three stops, 10:00am-4:00pm · Riverside Park, Hillcrest, Fairview Center · Riverside Park 10:00am-12:00pm · Hillcrest Apartments, 3000 Birchwood Dr 12:30-1:30pm · Fairview Center 3:00-4:00pm
🟠 Open Art Studio: Glitter and Glue · 10:00am-5:00pm drop-in · Amazement Square · with admission, $15 adults / $10 kids
🟠 Summer Movie Express · 11:00am · Regal River Ridge · $1 · The Sandlot and Muppets Treasure Island, also Thursday · the summer promo's final week
🟠 Open Studio · 12:00pm-7:30pm two-hour blocks · Needle Ninja · $25
🟠 Sewing Circle · 12:00pm · Needle Ninja · $25 · sew alongside other people, help on hand for a misbehaving machine
🟠 Beginner Knitting · 2:00pm · Needle Ninja · $68 · cast on, knit and purl, and read a pattern · 2-week series begins
🟢 Rivermont Farmers Market · 3:00-7:00pm · Riverside Park · weekly Wednesday market, runs through October
🟢 Chess Club at Starr Hill · 6:00-9:00pm · Starr Hill On Main · weekly night hosted by Pierce, all skill levels
🟢 Open Mic Night with Jodie Davis · 6:00-9:00pm, sign-ups 5:45 · Big Lick Tropical Grill · no cover
🟠 Sea Glass Crafts · 6:00-8:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $38-$55 · build a sea glass rose, lit succulent, framed display or lit tree, materials provided
🟢 Mindfulness Art Night · doors 7:00pm, starts 7:30, ends 9:30 · The Clarity House · collage and abstract poster night with a creative prompt, free coffee · ages 16+
🟢 Bar Exam Trivia · 7:00pm · Apocalypse Ale Works, Forest · weekly, with Tyler Wolff · FOREST
🎤 Karaoke: Lola's 7:00pm-close (Mogu Entertainment) · Scoreboards 8:00pm-12:00am (DJ Todd) · EL 32 10:00pm-close (Rhodey Entertainment)

With Gratitude to our Sponsor: Living Line Studio

Living Line Studio is a place to make, learn, and grow alongside other creative people. This week, join the Wednesday Watercolor class, one of the small-group sessions where you can build your skills, make new friends, and make art a regular part of your life. Register for the 8/12 class

Thu Aug 13

🟠 Summer Yoga with Prana · 7:00-8:00am · Casa Nueva Events · $8 · reserve or pay on arrival · last session of the summer series, then 20% off food and drink at Palmera House
🟢 Alive & Well Run Club · 7:45am · Millie's Living Café · weekly group run, August is the club's last month
🟢 Free daytime programs · Chair Exercise 9:00am and Social Bridge 9:30am at Templeton Center · Recreation Shuffle 11:00am at College Hill Center · free senior drop-ins, ages 50+ · Parks & Rec guide
🟠 Open Studio · 10:00am-6:00pm two-hour blocks · Needle Ninja · $25
🟠 Using a Sewing Machine · 10:00am · Needle Ninja · $98 · thread the machine and sew a pillowcase or tote bag · 3-week series begins
🟢 Bookmobile · four stops, 11:00am-4:30pm · Peaks View Park, Cornerstone, Humane Society · Peaks View Park 11:00am-12:00pm · Mobil at Cornerstone, 1209 Greenview Dr 12:30-1:30pm · Lynchburg Humane Society 2:00-3:00pm · Mister Goodies at Schewels, 7007 Timberlake Rd 3:30-4:30pm
🟠 Summer Movie Express · 11:00am · Regal River Ridge · $1 · The Sandlot and Muppets Treasure Island · final day of the summer promo
🟢 VA Legal Aid: New Housing Laws · 1:00-2:00pm · Miller Center, Rm 306 · Virginia Legal Aid walks through the new state housing laws · adults
🟢 Knit or Knot · 6:00pm · Templeton Center · free drop-in knitting group, ages 50+
🟠 Yoga, last session · 6:00-7:00pm · Templeton Center · $8 LR / $10 drop-in · with Paul Webb, bring your own mat · last session of the season · ages 15+
🟠 Trivia Night with Kittens · 6:00-8:00pm · Lynchburg Humane Society · $25 · team trivia with adoptable kittens in the room, teams of up to 6, every dollar goes to the shelter's pets
🟠 Waste of Space Tour: Loxias + Brain Sludge + cul-de-sac + If I Should Fall · doors 6:00pm, music 7:00 · Super Rad Arcade Bar · $12 · touring four-band bill, with mental health resources on hand from Victims and Villains
🟢 Live Music: Starfire · 6:30pm · Big Lick Tropical Grill · no cover · acoustic classic rock, pop and country covers
🟠 Pokemon Weekly Tournament · 6:30pm, with One Piece Play alongside · Underground Cards & Disc Shop, Forest · FOREST
🟢 Trivia Night with Noel · 6:30-8:00pm · The Vaughan Garage · weekly, first-place prize
🟢 Social Distance Band at the Amphitheater · 7:00pm · Lynchburg Amphitheater at Riverfront Park · free just-announced show, bring a lawn chair
🟢 Kreative Room Unfiltered · 7:00pm · The Music Hall, 722 Commerce St · free weekly open mic for music, spoken word and comedy
🟢 Music Bingo · 7:00pm · Apocalypse Ale Works, Forest · weekly, with Mike Hand · FOREST
🟠 Summer Concert Series: The South Avenue Band · 7:00-9:30pm, gates 6:30 · Second Stage, Amherst · $10 · kids 6-12 $5, under 6 free · tickets at the gate, rain or shine · AMHERST
🟠 Thursday Night Commander · 7:00-10:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · $8.99 · includes a $6 pack · at their downtown Federal St shop
🟢 Tapas & Tunes · 7:00-10:00pm · Dish · weekly live-music night, reservations recommended
🟠 The Toxic Avenger (the Musical) · 8:00pm · Wolfbane Performing Arts Center, Appomattox · $44-$69 · the final run begins tonight, also Friday and Saturday · pick the Toxic Waste Zone seats and you get soaked on purpose
🎤 Karaoke: No 7 Rooftop Bar 8:00-11:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment)

Fri Aug 14

🟢 Sunrise Senior Walking Group · 7:00-8:00am · Awareness Garden · drop-in group walk · ages 50+
🟢 Grave Cleaning · 10:00-11:30am · Forest Hill Cemetery · monthly volunteer session, August's stop in the cemetery rotation · ages 18+ · Parks&Rec · ⚠️ register by Wednesday
🟢 Snake Snacks · 12:00pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center · watch the library's snake get fed
🟠 Sit and Stitch · 4:00pm · Needle Ninja · $10 · two-hour needle-arts hangout, bring your project
🟠 Back to School Family Craft · 4:00-6:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $15-$25 by project
🟢 Live Music: Dan Glen Snyder · 5:30pm · Charley's Restaurant
🟢 Old Town Connector with Dalton Huskin · 6:30-8:30pm · The Trailhead
🟢 Friday Cheers Funk Night: Copacetic · 6:00pm, Copacetic on from 7:00 · Apocalypse Ale Works, Forest · the family-friendly Forest Friday Cheers series, with food and a play zone · FOREST
🟠 Royale Lynn + Pretty Pity + Her Majesty · 6:00-11:30pm · Super Rad Arcade Bar · $15-$20 · touring rock bill
🟠 Star Wars Unlimited league · 7:00pm, with FNM Booster Draft 7:00-10:00pm ($26.99, drafting Marvel Super Heroes) and Digimon locals 7:00pm ($8.99) · Dragon Fire Games · at their downtown Federal St shop
🟠 Haunted Pub Crawl · 7:30-9:30pm · meets at the Historic Bragassa Toy Store · $35 · history on tap between haunted stops
🟠 Tartuffe · 7:30pm · Commerce Street Theater · $22.66 all-in · Molière's comedy staged live (stage play) · some mature content, 16+ recommended · runs through next Sunday
🟠 Elianna Lael: Written Through My Lens · 8:00-10:00pm · The Music Hall, 722 Commerce St · $10-$15
🟠 Ghosts of Gallows Hill · 8:00-9:30pm · meets at the Old Court House steps · $25
🟠 Public Investigation at Miller-Claytor House · 8:00pm-midnight · Miller-Claytor House · $35-$65 · bring your own equipment or use theirs
🎤 Karaoke: Scoreboards 8:00pm-12:30am (DJ Cameron Wheeler)

Sat Aug 15

🟠 Face the Forest 5K · waves 7:30am · Poplar Forest · $50 through Wed, $60 after · the 15th annual obstacle course run through the grounds
🟢 Saturday Market · 8:00am-1:00pm · Lynchburg Community Market · produce, baked goods and makers downtown
🟢 Cars & Coffee Lynchburg · 8:00-10:00am · Tree of Life Ministries · monthly car and bike meet, coffee and donuts
🟠 Learn Your Mushrooms with Myrtle the Turtle · 9:00-11:00am · Ivy Creek Park · $5 per child, parents attend free · ages 3-12 · Parks&Rec · ⚠️ register by Wednesday
🟢 Ink Fest · 10:00am-2:00pm · Joy & Lynch Christian Warehouse Theatre · the Academy's first-ever tattoo-art festival, all ages
🟠 Start with Art: Craft Stick School Bus · 10:00am-12:00pm, then Stop Motion Animation Play 1:00-3:00pm and Squishy Circuits 3:00-4:00pm · Amazement Square · with admission, $15 adults / $10 kids
🟠 Wheel Throwing for Beginners · 10:00am-12:00pm · Firebrick Pottery · $66.63
🟢 Veteran Appreciation Expo · 10:00am-3:00pm · American Legion Post 16 · free resource fair with Hill City Warriors, The Blood Connection on site
🟠 Odyssey Fest · 10:00am-8:00pm · American Legion Post 16 · $20 donation, veterans free · veteran and first-responder mental-health festival alongside the expo, with Old Town Connector 6:00-7:30pm plus 501 Coyotes and The Pete Turpin Band
🟠 Vegetable Still Life Palette Knife Painting · 10:00am-12:00pm, then Experimental Watercolor and Zentangle 1:00-3:00pm · Scrappy Elephant · $35 / $30
🟢 Table Top Games · 12:00pm · Miller Center, Rm 306 · free drop-in board games
🟢 Summer Jam 2026 · 12:00-10:00pm · Three Roads Brewing · the brewery's birthday festival: LoveLYH market vendors from noon, food trucks, The Chapstix 1:00-4:00pm, Tommy Bryant 4:30-6:30pm, and Bigfoot County from 7:00pm
🟠 Pokemon Casual League · 1:30-3:30pm, then Yu-Gi-Oh locals 2:30-5:00pm ($4.99) and Riftbound Nexus Nights 6:00-9:00pm ($8.99) · Dragon Fire Games · at their downtown Federal St shop
🟠 Sewing Circle · 2:00pm, with Sit and Stitch alongside · Needle Ninja · $25 / $10
🟢 Artist Talk: Purnell Pettyjohn & Sally Goodrich · 1:00-2:00pm · Ann White Academy Gallery · both artists on their current shows
🟢 Fletcher Davis Annual Memorial Fish Fry · 1:00pm · 106 Maple Hills Dr · a neighborhood tradition in its fourth year, honoring Fletcher Davis
🟢 The Park grand opening at River Ridge · 4:00-8:00pm · River Ridge Mall · opening celebration for the mall's new outdoor event space
🟠 Singles Make & Mingle · 6:00-8:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $30-$50 by project
🟠 NO POLITICS, NO RELIGION…JUST COMEDY · 7:00-8:30pm · The Music Hall, 722 Commerce St · $25-$28 · touring stand-up showcase
🟠 Hi Ho Six Shooter + Her Majesty + Born With A Tail · doors 7:00pm · Super Rad Arcade Bar · $12
🟠 Tartuffe · 7:30pm · Commerce Street Theater · $22.66 all-in · Molière's comedy staged live (stage play) · some mature content, 16+ recommended
🟠 Radiant Bloom · 7:30pm · The Trailhead
🟠 Ghosts of Gallows Hill · 8:00-9:30pm · meets at the Old Court House steps · $25
🟠 Echoes on the Avenue · 8:00-9:30pm · Miller-Claytor House · $25, $45 with the extended investigation
🎤 Karaoke: Lola's 7:00pm (Mogu Entertainment) · Shining Star Karaoke at Apocalypse Ale Works, Forest 7:00-10:00pm (Robert Pennix)

Sun Aug 16

🟢 How Will Our Ancestors Find Us? and Interwoven · 12:00-4:00pm · Riverviews Artspace · final day for both shows
🟢 Andrew Bev: Sunday Sessions · 1:00-4:00pm · The Water Dog
🟠 Tartuffe, Sunday matinee · 2:30pm · Commerce Street Theater · $22.66 all-in · Molière's comedy staged live (stage play) · some mature content, 16+ recommended
🟠 The Watercolor Experience · 2:00-4:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $38
🟢 PostUp in the Park · 4:00-7:00pm · Riverfront Park · open jam session and open mic with Selah Vie & Friends, all voices welcome, food and coffee for sale
🟢 Tim Rowlett Music · 4:00-6:00pm · The Trailhead
🟠 Bananaslama + Xasthur + Decay + 2toaroom + Arda Burns + F-Certified · doors 7:00pm · Super Rad Arcade Bar · $15 · touring slam-metal bill's final stop
🎤 Karaoke: Stadium Inn 8:00-11:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment)

Mon Aug 17

🟢 Free daytime programs · Chair Exercise 9:00am and Tabletop Games 9:30am at Templeton Center · Recreation Shuffle 10:00am at Fairview Center · free senior drop-ins, ages 50+ · Parks & Rec guide
🟠 Coffee & Create · 9:00-10:00am or 10:30-11:30am · Living Line Studio · $10 · bring whatever you're working on, coffee, tea and materials provided · registration required
🟢 Bookmobile · two stops · Jamerson Family YMCA 10:00-11:00am · Diamond Hill Center, 1005 17th St 3:30-4:30pm
🟢 Family Storytime · 10:30-11:15am · Library Hub at the Miller Center · ages 5 and under with caregivers, no preregistration
🟢 Summer Mondays Soul Line Dance · 6:00-7:00pm · Diamond Hill Center · with Mz. Micky and the Hill City Sliders · last session of the summer
🟠 The Scaled Blades · 6:00-9:00pm · Mythic Hall · $15.38 · drop-in D&D table · the only session with seats this week
🟢 Trivia at Hill City Pub · 6:30pm · Hill City Pub · themed weekly trivia with DJ Liz · this week's theme is Food
🟢 Held In Our Hearts · doors 6:30pm, group 7:00-8:45 · The Clarity House · first meeting of a peer-led pet-loss support group, all pet owners welcome, free coffee
🟠 Palmera Canvas Club · 7:00-8:30pm · Palmera House · $60 · guided painting night, 15 seats
🟢 Monday Night Trivia · 8:00pm · Rivermont Pizza · popular weekly night, regulars grab tables from 7
🎤 Karaoke: Tiger Sun 7:00pm (mic opens) · 801 Raw Bar on Rivermont 7:00-10:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment)

Tue Aug 18

🟠 Pilates with Kaitlen · 8:00-9:00am · Sattva Yoga and Wellness Center · first class of their fall relaunch, more classes landing on the calendar
🟢 Free daytime programs · Chair Exercise 9:00am and Social Bridge 9:30am at Templeton Center · Recreation Shuffle 11:00am at Daniel's Hill Center · free senior drop-ins, ages 50+ · Parks & Rec guide
🟠 Open Studio · 10:00am-6:00pm two-hour blocks · Needle Ninja · $25
🟠 Zumba Gold · 10:00-11:00am · Daniel's Hill Center · $12 drop-in · with Dannie Snyder · ages 50+
🟢 Monthly Drop-In Craft · 10:00am · Miller Center, Rm 306 · adults
🟢 Downtown Family Storytime · 10:30-11:15am · Downtown Branch Library · ages 5 and under with caregivers
🟢 Workforce Readiness and Job Placement · 11:00am-1:00pm · College Hill Center · ages 16+
🟢 Bookmobile · three stops · McGurk House, 2425 Tate Springs Rd 11:30am-12:30pm · College Hill Center, 811 Jackson St 3:30-4:30pm · Bruster's Real Ice Cream, 7815 Timberlake Rd 6:00-8:00pm, a special evening stop
🟢 Summer Reading Party · 2:00pm · Fox Burrow Books · close out the summer reading season at the shop
🟠 Beginner Cross Stitch · 2:00pm · Needle Ninja · $68 · 2-week series begins, 6 spots
🟢 STEAM Team · 4:30pm · Miller Center, Community Rm 102 · hands-on science for kids
🟢 Chess Night · 5:00-7:00pm · Miller Center, Rm 306 · teens and adults, beginner to master, drop in anytime
🟢 Live Music: Jodie Davis · 5:30-8:30pm · Fleming Mountain Grill · no cover · solo acoustic guitar and vocals, every Tuesday
🟢 Hill City Writers · 6:00-8:00pm · Templeton Center · free drop-in writers' group
🟠 Tile Tuesday: Mahjong 102 · 6:00-8:00pm · Palmera House · $35 guided play, with Open Play $15 · run by Hill City Mahj
🟠 Mahjong at The Gilded Dogwood · 6:00-9:00pm · $25 · open and guided play plus Mahjong 101 · message them to reserve, payment holds the spot
🟢 Dungeons & Dragons at Starr Hill · 6:00-9:00pm · Starr Hill On Main · weekly table run by Red
🟢 Trivia, comedy, and games · 6:00-9:00pm · Tiger Sun · with Anthony "Train" Johnson
🟠 One Piece weekly locals · 7:00-9:30pm · Dragon Fire Games · $8.99 · at their Memorial Ave shop, active Bandai card ID required
🟢 Film & Art Night · 7:00pm · The Clarity House · the week's film goes up on their Instagram a day or two ahead · $3 donation appreciated
🟠 LYH Lindy Hop · 7:00-9:30pm · RiverView Vinyl · $5 · weekly swing night with a lesson included, no partner or experience needed
🎤 Karaoke: Big Lick Tropical Grill 7:30-9:00pm Family Karaoke Night (Rhodey Entertainment) · Dish 10:00pm-close (Allison)

Running all week

🟢 Riverside Park Sprayground · 10:00am-7:00pm daily · Riverside Park · through Labor Day
🟢 Riverfront Park Fountains · 10:00am-7:00pm daily · Riverfront Park · zero-depth splash fountains off the Riverwalk
🟢 Being There: Marjorie Portnow and guests · Thu-Sat 11:30am-5:30pm · Steven Francis Fine Art, Tradewynd gallery · landscape painting group show
🟢 Robert Sulkin · Wed-Fri 11:30am-5:30pm, Sat 9:30am-5:00pm · Steven Francis Fine Art, Main Street gallery · solo show

🗓️ Coming up next week

Five worth putting in the calendar now, and the full list lands in next Tuesday's email.

Enjoying the roundup? It takes a good chunk of my week to put together. If it pointed you to a good night out and you feel like tossing a few bucks in the tip jar, here's my Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/lyhevents. No pressure, and thanks for reading either way.